The car is a 2011 2.0 tdi with the CAG engine, i need to change the belt tensioner but to do that i need to remove the alternator first, i have searched you tube videos and found one thats the same as my car, i managed to remove the top bolt and what i think is the bottom bolt but the alternator is still tight and will not move, like its still bolted up, im thinking there must be another bolt holding it somewhere but i have checked with a torch and mirror but cant see one, any help on this please.

 

33 minutes ago, dakes2 said:

The car is a 2011 2.0 tdi with the CAG engine, i need to change the belt tensioner but to do that i need to remove the alternator first, i have searched you tube videos and found one thats the same as my car, i managed to remove the top bolt and what i think is the bottom bolt but the alternator is still tight and will not move, like its still bolted up, im thinking there must be another bolt holding it somewhere but i have checked with a torch and mirror but cant see one, any help on this please.

 

Hi sometimes its just bi metal corrosion between the bracket and the alternator body as they are designed to be tight, try spraying the lugs with release fluid and then give it a little encouragement with a pry bar alternatively get you alternator part number and put it on eBay to see how many fixing points it has.

Steve.

thanks, ill give that a try with wd40

well i managed to get the bolts out and alternator is moving around, but it still wont come out, its like something is holding it, i can move it in all directions. and the alternator is loose.

Edited September 8, 2025Sep 8 by dakes2

1 hour ago, dakes2 said:

well i managed to get the bolts out and alternator is moving around, but it still wont come out, its like something is holding it, i can move it in all directions. and the alternator is loose.

Hi its probably a location dowel, they are normally on one of the lugs try tilting the unit the side that comes down first is the side without the dowel, once moving you have to get the unit twist and pull/push depending what side the idiots have put the dowel.

Steve.

Thanks Steve, ill give it a try, i just read something about alternator sliding bushes so ill give that a try as well, been working on this for two days now and its been a nightmare, no space to work, and cuts all over my hands

2 hours ago, dakes2 said:

Thanks Steve, ill give it a try, i just read something about alternator sliding bushes so ill give that a try as well, been working on this for two days now and its been a nightmare, no space to work, and cuts all over my hands

Hi I know exactly where you are at, changed a turbo hose on my daughters Q3 last Friday and it looked like I had been fighting a wildcat, I am now a shareholder in my local chemist off the back of how much TCP and Germoline I  have bought, sliding bushes, that must be the new term for location dowel.

STEVE.

Finally managed to get the alternator out today its a real pig of a job and took a lot of jiggling to get it out, it was stuck on the sliding bushes that were seized. 

15 minutes ago, dakes2 said:

Finally managed to get the alternator out today its a real pig of a job and took a lot of jiggling to get it out, it was stuck on the sliding bushes that were seized. 

Hi when you reassemble it buy a pot of Aluminium grease, I always coat everything in it as its a lot better than copper grease at preventing bi metal corrosion.

Steve.

good idea i will do thanks for your help on this, i wouldn't have done it without your help